Patents Issued in December 25, 2001
  • Patent number: 6332257
    Abstract: A method of converting an existing vehicle powertrain including a manual transmission to a hybrid powertrain system with an automated powertrain transmission. The first step in the method of attaching a gear train housing to a housing of said manual transmission, said gear train housing receiving as end of drive shaft of said transmission and rotatably supporting a gear train assembly. Secondly, mounting an electric motor/generator to said gear train housing and attaching a motor/generator drive shaft of said electric motor/generator to said gear train assembly. Lastly, connecting an electro-mechanical clutch actuator to a friction clutch mechanism of said manual transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Richard G. Reed, Jr., Evan S. Boberg, Robert E. Lawrie, Francois J. Castaing
  • Patent number: 6332258
    Abstract: A brake for motorcycles includes an improved brake lever assembly having a brake pad arm configured for attachment at one end to a brake pad, and connected at an opposing end to a brake actuator arm by a rotatable collar. The brake pad arm and the brake actuator arm are disposed relative to one another such that the angle of the brake pad arm is lower than the prior art, thereby enabling actuation of the brake with less foot movement and causing less fatigue in frequent braking situations. While the prior art typically has an angle of 30-35 degrees between the brake pad arm and the brake actuator arm, the present invention maintains a preferred offset angle of 50 to 65 degrees between the brake pad arm and the brake actuator arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Brant Monson
  • Patent number: 6332259
    Abstract: The dismounting device includes, in order that a fastening member is dismounted from a base material, the fastening member comprising a head and a body, the body being inserted into a fastening hole formed in a base material, the head contacting a peripheral edge of the fastening hole into a fastened state with the body, a cutting member for cutting a boundary region between the head and the body from the head toward the body to separate the head from the body, the cutting member removing the fastening member from the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Yoshikawa, Yuichi Jibiki, Mitsuru Yasuda
  • Patent number: 6332260
    Abstract: In an annular member forming apparatus including: a forming roll rotatable in contact with an outer cylindrical surface of an annular workpiece; a mandrel relatively movable towards and away from the forming roll in contact with an inner cylindrical surface of the workpiece; and an outside diameter detecting device for detecting an outside diameter of the workpiece which is to be worked, the apparatus further includes a moving device for moving relatively the forming roll and the mandrel and for pressing the workpiece by the forming roll and the mandrel moved towards each other to subject the workpiece to rough rolling and to finish rolling. The moving device includes a retracting device for correcting an elastic deformation of the forming roll, the mandrel and the moving device occurring during the rough rolling, for a switching time from the rough rolling to the finish rolling by an output signal from the outside diameter detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Chuichi Sato, Hiroyuki Sawai, Hiroshi Mitsuboshi
  • Patent number: 6332261
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the attachment of a mounting rail, as well as to a connecting device for a mounting rail. In the process for the attachment of a mounting rail to a rod which is, if necessary, at least partially premounted, of a folding top for a motor vehicle, particularly for a convertible, a tubular connecting element (7, 7), which has at least one stopping surface (stopping surface [11]), is inserted through a hole (5) in the mounting rail (3). The tubular connecting element (7, 7′) is inserted through an additional hole (25) in the rod (23) and secured in its position, and the mounting rail (3) is moved forward up to a predetermined position on the rod (23), whereby the tubular connecting element (7, 7′) is plastically deformed and a connection between the rod and the mounting rail is brought about.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Dura Convertible Systems GmbH
    Inventor: David MacFarland
  • Patent number: 6332262
    Abstract: Flat knitted tinsel wires (2h) are sewn on a base cloth (B) of a conductive suspension (1) with a sewing thread (3) and the ends (2ha, 2hb) of the flat knitted tinsel wires extend outward from the conductive suspension (1). In this suspension device, a work load of peeling off the flat knitted tinsel wire ends (2ha and 2hb) from the base cloth (B) is reduced and associated problems are solved. The flat knitted tinsel wires (2h) are sewn on the base cloth (B), with the flat knitted tinsel wire ends (2ha, 2hb) being positioned at base close holes (B1), and thermally pressed and trimmed together with the base cloth (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kenwood
    Inventor: Yoshio Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6332263
    Abstract: A rotor for a commutator machine, having a rotor shaft, a rotor body containing a rotor winding, and a commutator, which has an insulation material body non-rotatably supported on the rotor shaft and has a number of commutator lamellas that are disposed on the insulation material body. Connection lugs that are bent away from the commutator lamellas for connecting connection wires of the rotor winding, in order to use the advantageous ultrasonic torsion welding process to mechanically and electrically connect connection lugs and connection wires without changing the rotor geometry, the insulation material body, is axially supported against the end face of the rotor body oriented toward the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schmidt, Hans Kobschaetzky
  • Patent number: 6332264
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to manufacture sliders having excellent properties with accuracy and to improve the production efficiency and facilitate handling of intermediate products during slider manufacturing steps. In a method of the invention to manufacture a bar in which a row of slider sections are aligned, a wafer block is made from a wafer in which rows of slider sections are aligned. The wafer block is bonded to a dummy block on a support plate. Next, a processing step and a cutting step are repeated. The processing step is to perform specific processing on the medium facing surfaces of a row of slider sections in the medium facing surface of the wafer block bonded to the support plate. The cutting step is to cut the wafer block together with the support plate such that the row of slider sections whose medium facing surfaces have received the specific processing are separated from the wafer block to be the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Itoh, Kazuo Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 6332265
    Abstract: A rolling bearing manufacturing apparatus is used to work the two races of a rolling bearing and then assemble the thus worked outer and inner races together with a plurality of rolling elements into the rolling bearing. The present apparatus comprises an outer race groove working machine 11 for working the outer race of the rolling bearing to thereby form a raceway groove therein, a gauge part 23 for measuring the raceway diameter of the raceway groove of the outer race after the present raceway groove is worked by the outer race groove working machine 11, and an inner race grinding machine 12 which, in accordance with the thus measured raceway diameter, works the raceway groove of the inner race in such a manner that an internal clearance can provide a predetermined constant amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhisa Tonooka
  • Patent number: 6332266
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembling apparatus includes a main conveyer for transferring a tray, at least one fin transfer conveyer and one molding plate transfer conveyer, installed at one side of the main conveyer to be parallel thereto and having a predetermined length, a plurality of fin plate assembling devices, installed between the fin transfer conveyer and the molding plate transfer conveyer in a lengthwise direction of the main conveyer, a fin molding device, connected to the fin transfer conveyer, for molding a fin, a plate molding device, installed at one side of the main conveyer, for manufacturing a plate and supplying the manufactured plate to the molding plate transfer conveyer, a fin molding plate supply device for supplying the fin molding plate assembly assembled by the fin plate assembling devices to the tray intermittently transferred by the main conveyer, an end plate assembly supply device, a special plate assembly supply device and a manifold plate assembly supply device, sequentially installed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Myung-ho Park, Pyung-soo Kang, Jae-woo Kim, Kwang-hee Lee
  • Patent number: 6332267
    Abstract: A process for making a removably interlockable connector assembly that includes a first connector having a head on a mesa and a second connector having an opening that receives the head on the first connector. The head on the mesa of the first connector and the material defining the opening in the second connector are flexible and sized, so that the head on the mesa of the first connector and the material defining the opening in the second connector flex as the head on the mesa of the first connector is inserted into the opening in the second connector. The head on the mesa of the first connector is formed by selectively etching portions of a first pad layer through openings in an etch resistant layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John G. Davis, Richard J. Noreika, Michael C. Weller
  • Patent number: 6332268
    Abstract: An IC chip (2) can be provided to a pre-mount process while being held on a tape-shaped supporting member (5), without being taken out of the tape-shaped supporting member (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Imanishi, Yoshifumi Kitayama, Koichi Kumagai, Shinji Kanayama, Yoshinori Wada, Takahiro Yonezawa, Kazushi Higashi
  • Patent number: 6332269
    Abstract: A method of verifying a predetermined lead alignment of a component having a physical asymmetry corresponding to an alignment of the leads is provided. The method includes placing the component in a recess in a surface of a nest, wherein the recess corresponds to and mates with the physical asymmetry on the component and detecting whether the physical asymmetry has mated with the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl L. Gamel, Kreg W. Hines
  • Patent number: 6332270
    Abstract: A high density integrated test probe and method of fabrication is described. A group of wires are ball bonded to contact locations on the surface of a fan out substrate. The wires are sheared off leaving a stub, the end of which is flattened by an anvil. Before flattening a sheet of material having a group of holes is arranged for alignment with the group of stubs is disposed over the stubs. The sheet of material supports the enlarged tip. The substrate with stubs form a probe which is moved into engagement with contact locations on a work piece such as a drip or packaging substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Samuel Beaman, Keith Edward Fogel, Paul Alfred Lauro, Maurice H. Norcott, Da-Yuan Shih, George Frederick Walker
  • Patent number: 6332271
    Abstract: A method for making rotors for screw-type machines with a plunge-cut turning method in which an approximately rectangular groove is formed approximately at a center of a work piece with trilateral machining, a groove is cut radially deeper by trilateral machining until a predetermined groove depth has been reached, the profile flanks are shaped by bilateral machining, and the groove depth is increased with a recessing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Joh. Heinr. Bornemann GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Hampel
  • Patent number: 6332272
    Abstract: A method for repairing a turbine blade (10) wherein the tip (16) of the blade is removed (41,43) and a replacement cap is attached by welding (49). The cap may consist of a plate (48) attached by welding and a squealer (54) formed by depositing weld material (52), as illustrated in FIG. 3. The plate and/or squealer may be formed from a material different from the material of the airfoil portion (42) of the blade in order to optimize the performance of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignees: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation, Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary Sinnott, Kevin D. Smith, John E. Junkin, Kevin Updegrove, Michael F. Foster, Daniel Lovelace
  • Patent number: 6332273
    Abstract: A method 30 for making a relatively low profile catalytic converter assembly 10 which is selectively deployed upon a vehicle 14. The catalytic converter assembly 10 is formed from a generally hollow tube or member 34 which is selectively expanded within a die 31. The expanded member 34 receives a pair of catalytic substrate members 54, 56, thereby forming a low profile catalytic converter assembly 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Tech., Inc.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hong Huang, Kenneth Mark Pickett, Gary Meyers
  • Patent number: 6332274
    Abstract: A toggle-link type hand tool is provided that includes pivotally interconnected elements having workpiece engaging members and a pair of handles each operatively connected to a respective one of the pivotally interconnected elements, and a toggle-link operatively connected between the handles. Furthermore, the workpiece engaging members may be configured to have a cutting surface, configured as straight blades or as curved cutting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Alberto G. Domenge
  • Patent number: 6332275
    Abstract: A margin inspector for IC wafers includes an upper plate and a supporting portion. The upper plate, which is formed as a transparent plate, has a plurality of concentric circular segments thereon for establishing a set of reference lines to examine the periphery ring of the wafer located under the upper plate while in examining operation. The supporting portion connected with the upper plate is used to form a working space, between the supporting portion and the upper plate, for accommodating the wafer to be examined. By applying these inspecting lines, any deviation on the washout periphery ring of the wafer can be easily and correctly located by eyesight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Mosel Vitelic Inc.
    Inventors: Wen-Wang Tsai, Chun-Yan Wu
  • Patent number: 6332276
    Abstract: An articulate laser degree finder tool and attachments for use in establishing a precise level line ranging from the horizontal to a vertical position in degrees for use in the construction industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Ronnie L. Mangel
  • Patent number: 6332277
    Abstract: A level including a frame having a reference surface, a level sensor secured to the frame, and an articulated arm pivotally connected at one end to the frame for securing the reference surface to a test surface. The articulated arm includes an inner member pivotally connected to the frame at one end and an outer member extending from a free end of the inner member. The inner member is rotationally biased against the frame while the outer member is pivotally connected to the inner member and rotationally biased against the inner member. The inner and outer members are rotationally biased in opposite directions for folding against the frame. The level may also include spools, idler wheels, take-up fingers, and swivels for supporting the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventors: Greg J. Owoc, Timothy D. Mika
  • Patent number: 6332278
    Abstract: Portable precision caliper comprising a slide (2) and a shaft (1) each fitted with a jaw (10, respectively 20). The slide is further equipped with electronic means (11) which enable the distance between the jaws (10, 20) to be displayed on an electronic display (12). The electronic means are powered by a battery (110, 111). The shaft (2) is fitted with a magnetized scale (21) with a period of magnetization &lgr;. The electronic means (11) include a sensor (112) equipped with an array of magnetoresistive electrodes disposed opposite said scale (21). The resistance values of the magnetoresistive electrodes are a sinusoidal function of the longitudinal position of the sensor (112) along the scale (21). The set of magnetoresistive electrodes includes at least certain sets of magnetoresistive electrodes formed of at least 8 electrodes connected in series, so as to increase the electric resistance of the sets and to reduce the electricity consumption of the whole device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Brown & Sharpe TESA SA
    Inventors: Alex Bezinge, Jean-Luc Bolli
  • Patent number: 6332279
    Abstract: A drying device in which temperature and humidity of a gas flow fed into each of plural helical dryers in the form of a cylinder (i.e., temperature and humidity of an exhausted gas flow) can be each controlled independent of the other dryers. The drying device, is equipped with a casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Fukuhori, Hidetomo Ito
  • Patent number: 6332280
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Kato, Kouji Nishihata, Tsunehiko Tsubone, Atsushi Itou
  • Patent number: 6332281
    Abstract: A removably attachable traction gear for the underside of footwear having two primary components: a retaining member and a receptacle. These two components respectively replace the common screw and threaded receptacle systems found in for affixing traction gear to the underside of shoes. A partial turn of the traction gear securely locks the gear into the receptacle. The retaining member has a three-extension design so as to make the traction gear resistant to lateral forces applied to the ground-engaging end of the cleat. Locking is achieved through use of cantilevered fingers which press in during installation of the retaining member, and which spring back out to lock with mated indentations in the extensions. During installation a dome containing insole material is compressed. Unlocking is achieved through reverse turning the retaining member to force the springs back in, and removal is aided through re-expansion of the dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: MacNeill Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Armand J. Savoie
  • Patent number: 6332282
    Abstract: A lamp showing movable floating ornaments is provided. The lamp mainly includes a lighting means for emitting light, and a closed clear container for containing and showing liquid and floating ornaments therein. A liquid-guiding means and a propeller are provided in a lower part of the container, and a driving means is provided below the container for turning the propeller. When the propeller is driven to turn, liquid flowing into the lower part of the container via the liquid-guiding means is continuously forced back into an upper part of the container via the liquid-guiding means at increased speed, so that the floating ornaments in the liquid in the container are brought to move around and create dynamic scenes in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Rich Lin
  • Patent number: 6332283
    Abstract: A price totem includes a carriage for carrying the display numbers at one or more vertical spaced number locations. The carriage has upper and lower portions which can be collapsed relative to each other enabling the construction of a large carriage which can still have its numbers changed at a single number changing station, which is accessible at ground level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Bribex Limited
    Inventor: Timothy Mark Archer
  • Patent number: 6332284
    Abstract: A panel display having a stretchable structure made of articulated, tubular elements collapsible together with an internal elastic cord. The elements are articulated on a central assembling support for mounting. Some relatively rigid elements are fixed on the support while obliquely diverging away from it so as to form feet with a ground footprint shaped as a regular polygon. Other elements form relatively flexible bows each of which will respectively support at its free end a suspendible panel in its middle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Tafforeau
  • Patent number: 6332285
    Abstract: A plastic tab for indexing or marking a folder or an edge portion of an article such as an organizer or storage system. The lower portion of the tab has two downwardly extending walls, between which an edge of the folder or other article may be placed. The downwardly extending walls are configured and adapted to create an interference fit when the folder or other article is inserted between the walls of the tab. The interference fit enables the tab to remain securely in the desired position along the edge portion. The tab is made of a flexible polymeric material so that it may be mounted, re-positioned or removed easily. Removal of the tab from a wall edge causes the walls to flex apart and thereby eliminate or minimize the interference fit between the tab lower walls and the article on which the tab is mounted. Removal of the tab is therefore a smooth and simple operation that minimizes breakage of the tab or damage to the folder, organizer or storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Esselte Corporation
    Inventors: Eric R. Aaldenberg, Lee A. Boy, Michael Birch, Robert D. Seiler, James J. Lynch
  • Patent number: 6332286
    Abstract: A gun tube cailibrator comprises a calibration lens, a sliding seat connected to the of the calibration lens, one side thereof is formed with a teeth track, and the center portion thereof is disposed with a vertical sliding groove for being locked horizontally by screws. The block is a rectangular body. and a side of the block near the sliding seat is formed with a respective teeth track engaged with the teeth track of the sliding seat, while the center thereof is installed with an axial hole. The lower end thereof is locked vertically by a fixing screw; An elastomer is installed between the teeth track of the block and the track of the sliding seat. A straight pin is inserted into a through hole in the center of the block and a fixing screw serves to the fixed the lower end thereof. Thus, the telescopic gun sight lens of different sizes can be suited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Long Perng Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: An-Jen Shen
  • Patent number: 6332287
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for growing plants with controlled rates of nutrient and water input. The apparatus and method includes the use of a reservoir container and a basket-style growing medium container having perforated side and bottom walls spaced inwardly from the walls of the reservoir container. The apparatus is closed by a top wall having openings through which plants can grow with their roots imbedded in a growing medium within the basket-style growing medium container. Water is provided in a reservoir below the bottom wall of the basket-style growing medium container which may have a mechanism for assisting the transfer of water from the reservoir into the growing medium. Pre-selected plant nutrients (e.g., N, K) are appropriately placed in the growing medium at the time of planting and are used over the course of time for plant growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Carroll M. Geraldson
  • Patent number: 6332288
    Abstract: A sash pivot assembly, for supporting a window sash in sliding and pivotal displacement within a window frame, is comprised of a housing having a pivot rotor rotatively mounted therein. The pivot rotor has a slot comprising a spring clip defined by a U-shaped spring comprising lateral side arms having inwardly embossed portions, for snap-locking and snap-releasing engagement with a sash pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Ferco Architectural Hardware
    Inventors: Guy Guillemet, Yvon Soucy, Daniel Varin
  • Patent number: 6332289
    Abstract: A window runner includes a clip-in member that engages a hole in a window to attach the window runner to the window. A locking member, in the form of a screw pre-mounted on the runner, is introduced into a central orifice of the clip from the side of the window which faces toward the interior of the vehicle. Flexible tabs extending from the clip lock into the periphery of the window hole. It is therefore extremely difficult to detach the clip from outside the vehicle. In consequence, any unauthorized lowering of the window by detaching the window clip-in member is no longer possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems - France
    Inventor: Yi-Hwa M. Chu
  • Patent number: 6332290
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a canopy which can be inflated, deployed and retracted, respectively, having a plurality of longitudinal inflatable beams arranged side by side, a device for supplying the inflatable beams with pressurized fluid, and a device for the foundation or ballasting of the canopy. Each of the inflatable beams is formed by a tubular envelope which is closed at its two ends by a mechanical leaktight confinement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: S.A. Spironef Technologies
    Inventor: Guy Robert Delamare
  • Patent number: 6332291
    Abstract: This invention relates to radiation-curable coating compositions which contain A) compounds having one or more free-radically polymerisable double bonds which additionally contain at least one further functional group reactive for the purposes of an addition and/or condensation reaction, B) compounds having one or more free-radically polymerisable double bonds, which additionally contain at least one further functional group reactive for the purposes of an addition and/or condensation reaction, wherein the additional reactive functional group is complementary to or reactive towards the additional reactive functional groups of component A), C) optionally at least one monomeric, oligomeric and/or polymeric compound having at least one functional group reactive towards the functional groups from component A) or component B) D) one or more photoinitiators as well as E) optionally solvents, water, pigments and/or extenders as well as conventional lacquer additives, wherein component A) and component B) diffe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Herberts GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Carmen Flosbach, Helmut Löffler, Karin Maag
  • Patent number: 6332292
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the inclination of a building surface, the device having two mutually cop-operating adjusting elements. The first element is for establishing an initial angle &agr; and the second adjusting element is moved between an initial position and operational position selected by the user depending on the slope to be given to the building surface. The second adjusting element is selectively adjustable relative to the first adjusting element and thereby produces the slope required for the building surface by positioning the second element with respect to the first by mutual rotation. The device also has an adjusting means for making each mutual position corresponding to an adjusting angle &agr;.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Buzon Pedestal International
    Inventor: Claude Buzon
  • Patent number: 6332293
    Abstract: A launderable dust control mat having antimicrobial properties is provided. The mat includes a pile fiber upper surface and a rubber backing surface. Metal based antimicrobial agent, are disposed within both the fiber forming the upper surface and the rubber forming the backing surface thereby providing antimicrobial character to the mat as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Robert C. Kerr, James N. Rockwell
  • Patent number: 6332294
    Abstract: The invention consists of several improvements introduced into the construction of mechanical draft excluders for the lower edge of doorjambs, characterized in that the body of the draft excluder is built in three sections aligned horizontally, with the two end sections each connected to a side of the doorjamb and the third laid out in a sliding fashion between the two to cover the separation that might exist between the two fixed end sections by adapting to the width of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Luis Müller Carranza
  • Patent number: 6332295
    Abstract: A partition wall arrangement, in particular for offices, comprises at least a support section for the vertical support of the partition wall arrangement, the support section having a longitudinal direction, and at least one arrest line, which extends in the longitudinal direction and has snap-in holes for the locking engagement of objects to be joined thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Bosse Design Gesellschaft für Innovative Office Interiors mbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Spielhoff
  • Patent number: 6332296
    Abstract: A corner apparatus for forming inner or outer corner areas of wall structures. The apparatus comprises an elongated corner section having two planar panel portions attached by a living hinge. The two panel portions and living hinge are extruded from a high strength plastic. The living hinge enables the panel portions to be placed at a desired angle relative to each other to form an inner corner of a wall. When forming an outer corner, an elongated, generally L-shaped metal corner member is inserted into grooves formed in distal end portions of each of the planar panel portions of the corner section. This holds the planar panel portions in a desired angular orientation and provides a very straight corner edge for forming the outer corner area. The apparatus significantly reduces the time to form and finish corner areas of walls which are finished with drywall, thereby significantly reducing the cost of construction of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Gerald Moscovitch
  • Patent number: 6332297
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for facilitating the removal of formwork for the end joint of a diaphragm wall panel, said formwork comprising a soleplate having two side edges. The device comprising: two substantially rectangular plates of substantially the same dimensions; spacer means secured to first longitudinal edges of each of said plates to hold them substantially parallel to each other at a spacing h; filler means for filling the volume defined by said plates, the spacer means, and a plane orthogonal to said plates located at a distance d from the second longitudinal edges of the plates; and temporary fixing means for fixing said plates to said soleplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Compagnie du Sol
    Inventor: Johnny Butigieg
  • Patent number: 6332298
    Abstract: A beam structure, the beam having a body with two spaced-apart ends, two blocks in the body, each optionally with at least one lifting eye, each of the two blocks spaced-apart from each other and spaced-apart from the two spaced-apart ends of the body; and a structure with a first beam and a second beam, each beam comprising a body with two spaced-apart ends, two blocks in the body, in one aspect of the size of standard ISO corner fittings, each of the two blocks spaced-apart from each other and spaced-apart from the two spaced-apart ends of the body, each beam having a tubular support on and projecting from each block, the tubular supports aligned as two pairs of tubular supports, two tubular members one each extending between each pair of the tubular supports, each tubular member having two ends with one end projecting into one of the tubular supports of a pair of tubular supports and one end projecting into the other tubular support of the pair of tubular supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: William H. Bigelow
  • Patent number: 6332299
    Abstract: A frame connector for connecting and spacing building frames is formed as a flat rigid rectangular bar with alternating depending rigid separating flaps equal in length to the desired spacing between frame members and flat rigid securement flaps equal in length to the width of a frame member and provided with holes for attaching securement devices to the frame members. A method for creating the connector is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Stewart, III
  • Patent number: 6332300
    Abstract: A coupling tool for a double wall is proposed which makes it possible to join an inner and an outer wall together without selecting places while ensuring a sufficient joint strength. The coupling tool is formed by an anchor formed by superposing two metallic plates so as to be spreadable, and a wire of a required length mounted to one end of the anchor. The wire is fixed to the anchor so as to protrude from an end opposite to the tip of the anchor. Since the anchor can be driven into the inner wall at any position, the outer wall can be fixed to the inner wall by use of the coupling tool without selecting places and number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Wakai & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Wakai
  • Patent number: 6332301
    Abstract: A metal beam includes a top flange; a bottom flange; and an intermediate web joining together the top flange and the bottom flange. The bottom flange includes an upper deck and a lower deck joined at their inner sides to the intermediate web in parallel spaced relation to each other to form a double-deck structure. The space between the upper and lower decks is occupied by tensioning elements embedded in concrete for prestressing the beam. The top flange is of smaller width but of substantially greater thickness than the bottom flange lower deck. In one described embodiment, the intermediate web is of a single wall construction; and in a second described embodiment, it is of a double-wall construction and also receives tensioning elements and concrete for prestressing the beam. Also described is a building structure in which the metal beams are used for supporting horizontal floor panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Jacob Goldzak
  • Patent number: 6332302
    Abstract: An impact bar having a sectional shape including a cylindrical portion formed of a plate material has a flat rib portion formed by extending both ends of the plate material to an inner side of the cylindrical portion with the leading end of each end being close to or contacting the inner surface of the cylindrical portion. The resulting impact bar provides enhanced strength without an increase in weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Sanyo Machine Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Asai
  • Patent number: 6332303
    Abstract: A method of building an underground structure using concrete columns to be vertically installed at corners and at positions between the corners and concrete panels to be filled between adjacent concrete columns. The method comprises the steps of determining positions for the concrete columns, digging a trench for a guide composed of outer and inner frames, drilling holes for the columns, the holes being deeper than a level where the concrete panels are placed, installing the columns into the holes and setting with concrete, removing the outer frame of the guide, deepening the trench, fitting concrete panels between the columns, installing a reinforcing metal beam using concrete on the columns and panels to prevent inward buckling, and removing the inner frame of the guide after the concrete on the reinforcing beam has set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: NIC Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaharu Saito
  • Patent number: 6332304
    Abstract: A New Useful Improvement. An encapsulation method for producing high quality low cost housing panels, which uses commercially fabricated pre-assembled light gage steel framed structures, with superior insulation material. The encapsulation process uses a Clamshell Jig Fixture designed specifically for this process. The pre-assembled steel housing frames are placed in the Jig Fixture and sealed. Thereafter the insulation material is injected into the steel framework via openings in the jig fixture. The insulation material is a high density Class 1 Isofoam Polyisocyanate, known as Polyurethane. It is free of Formaldehyde and CFC's or HCFCS. Its insulation “R” factor is 7.69 per inch of thickness. Finished panels result in “R” factors to 40.37, with vertical, horrizontal, wind and seismic strengths greater than building code requirements for housing. Panel attaching methods are simpler and stronger using smaller, short, light 16 to 12 gage studs, bolts, nuts and anchor plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Conway J. Fuhrman
  • Patent number: 6332305
    Abstract: In a heat seal device of a filling and packaging machine, wherein a continuously fed film F is vertically sealed by a vertical seal mechanism 19 and the laterally sealed by lateral seal mechanisms 20, 21, contents W, W1, W2 are filled in the film formed in the bottomed cylindrical shape and, while the film F is fed, a portion of the film F which forms a bag opening part side is sealed laterally by the lateral seal mechanisms 20,21 for continuously packaging as pouches P, the vertical seal mechanism 19 comprises a pair of rotating shafts 25 incorporating heaters H and mounted rotatably and two pairs of vertical seal rolls 31, 34 which are mounted in pairs on the rotating shafts 25 with a given distance in the axial direction of the rotating shafts 25 and have seal portions 30,35 protruded in a flange shape around outer peripheral portions thereof respectively, the heaters H incorporated in the rotating shafts 25 are disposed movably along the axial direction of the rotating shafts 25 with the position of the h
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshimori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6332306
    Abstract: In a strapping apparatus for strapping goods with a band, which apparatus has a tensioning device which is operatively connected to a tensioning drive and is intended for tensioning the band, a welding device for sealing two layers of a band, and a plurality of rewinding locks for fixing the band on the strapping apparatus, highest possible efficiency is to be achieved. The invention proposes providing the welding device with a lever (91), on the one end of which an eccentric (94) which is operatively connected to a motor shaft acts for the purpose of transmitting an eccentric movement, with regard to the motor shaft of the closure device, to the lever (91), and to the other end of which a welding shoe (86) is coupled, the lever (91) being mounted pivotably at a bearing point (90), so that the movement of the eccentric results in an oscillating reciprocating movement of the welding shoe. As a result, it is possible to reduce the power loss occurring in the friction welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Orgapack GmbH
    Inventors: Flavio Finzo, Giancarlo Haltinner, Bernd Marsche, Ludovigo De Felice